Murder victim’s father died in car crash before pardoning killer, court hears

A father was on his way to the court to pardon the defendant in return for blood money, but he was killed in a car crash instead.

ABU DHABI // The father of a man killed by his former prison mate was about to pardon the murderer when he died in a car crash.

With the father dead, the victim’s brother instead insisted on the death penalty for the killer, the appeals court heard.

The victim and the defendant had been in prison together and developed a homosexual relationship, which continued after their sentences were finished.

On the day of the murder, the victim rented a house in a different emirate and invited his lover there.

The defendant said he stabbed the other man to defend himself from being raped.

The criminal court sentenced the defendant to death after the victim’s brother sought vengeance.

But the father was on his way to the court to pardon the defendant in return for blood money.

The case was adjourned until March 9 for the defence lawyers to continue trying to reconcile with the victim’s brother.